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Various types of drugs to treat stomach acid can be easily found in pharmacies. Each product offers the advantages of each substance to completely relieve acid reflux.
Of these various choices, you may have found or been prescribed by a doctor the gastric acid drugs Famotidine and Ranitidine. Yes, both are commonly given when someone has acid reflux problems.
Famotidine and Ranitidine are a class of H2 drugs blockers which works by reducing stomach acid. This medication can also help relieve symptoms heartburn .
Although both are in the drug class and have the same effect, in fact there are still differences between the two. So, what are the differences between Famotidine and ranitidine?
Famotidine, a drug to treat stomach acid
Famotidine is a drug that functions to reduce the secretion (excretion) of stomach acid by inhibiting histamine at histamine H2 receptors. These receptors, located on cells called parietals, are on the walls of the stomach.
Histamine itself is a compound that stimulates parietal cells to produce stomach acid.
Famotidine works by blocking H2 receptors and preventing histamine from producing stomach acid. When histamine production is inhibited, there will be a decrease in stomach acid.
Excess stomach acid can cause ulcers to appear in the digestive system. These injuries can cause gastric ulcer (gastric ulcer) or duodenal ulcer.
Famotidine is more commonly used to treat stomach ulcers than Ranitidine.
Not only does it reduce stomach acid production, Famotidine has also been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat GERD problems, heartburn , and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
A study reported in the Journal of International Medical Research, states that Famotidine is safe to use. In fact, this study proves that the side effects of Famotidine are the smallest when compared to other H2 blocker drugs. According to this research also, cases that complained of side effects from using Famotidine were only 1.2-2%, while other similar drugs reached 2-3%.
You can take this at the same time or not at the same time as meals. This drug is an oral medication, so you need to take it with the help of a glass of water. Usually, the effect of this drug can be felt after 2-3 hours after drinking and lasts for 12 hours.
Ranitidine to treat stomach acid and erosive esophagitis
Because it is in the same group, Ranitidine has the same effects and action as Famotidine. Its use is equally useful for inhibiting histamine which produces stomach acid. That is why, Ranitidine is also included in the H2 group blockers .
Just like Famotidine, Ranitidine is also used as a drug to treat diseases associated with excess stomach acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Various stomach acid problems that can also be treated by drinking Ranitidine include stomach ulcers (stomach ulcer), intestinal ulcers, GERD, and heartburn.
Erosive esophagitis is different from non-erosive esophagitis, which does not injure the esophageal wall. Erosive esophagitis occurs when stomach acid injures the wall of the esophagus (esophagus) and causes inflammation or swelling. This causes difficulty and pain when swallowing, there is a burning sensation in the esophagus, vomiting and bloody stools.
Ranitidine is usually prescribed to treat acid reflux problems such as GERD. The dosage given is generally 75 mg or 150 mg once or twice a day. This medicine needs to be taken 30-60 minutes before meals. However, it should be noted that Ranitidine consumption is not recommended for more than 2 weeks, unless recommended by a doctor.
Actually, there is almost no difference in the way of action between Ranitidine and Famotidine. Even so, a study states that Famotidine can treat stomach acid 7.5 times stronger than Ranitidine.
That is why, Famotidine can treat more conditions caused by too high stomach acid compared to Ranitidine.
You can find Famotidine in certain dosage sizes at the nearest pharmacy without a doctor's prescription, while Ranitidine requires a prescription. If you are using Famotidine as a stomach acid medicine, don't forget to take it according to the instructions for use and the dosage specified on the package.
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